Schalke's Huntelaar ready to break Neuer's run

Updated: 17 September 2011 22:39 IST

Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar says he is ready to become the first footballer in nearly 11 hours to score past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer on his return to Gelsenkirchen on Sunday with Bayern Munich.

Written by Agence-France Presse

Read Time: 2 mins

Berlin:

Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar says he is ready to become the first footballer in nearly 11 hours to score past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer on his return to Gelsenkirchen on Sunday with Bayern Munich.

Bayern's ex-Schalke captain Neuer has not been beaten after 658 minutes in the last seven games for Munich ahead of Sunday's German league match.

But with four goals in five league games for the Royal Blues, Schalke striker Huntelaar is ready to ruin Neuer's homecoming.

Neuer and the Bayern defence last conceded a goal in any competition in the 1-0 defeat to Moenchengladbach in the German league on August 7, but Huntelaar says he is ready to break the Munich run.

"You can score against any 'keeper, no goalkeeper is a superman," Huntelaar told German daily Bild.

Having left Schalke last summer for Munich after 14 years, the 25-year-old Neuer can expect a hostile response on his first visit back to Gelsenkirchen with Bayern.

"There will be some applause, but whistles are guaranteed," said Schalke manager Horst Heldt.

Schalke's planned official farewell for Neuer just before the game has been cancelled.

"That would be a provocation for the fans," explained Heldt.

Bayern's chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge upped the ante by saying the response of Schalke's fans will show whether they respect for Neuer.

"It will be a litmus test. We will be able to see if the fans respect Neuer after all he has done for Schalke 04 and he has done a lot!"

But Neuer is ready for a rough reception at his former club.

"The atmosphere will be heated, because the game will be against Bayern and against me," said Neuer.

"But this won't be the first time I have experienced a chorus of whistles."

Bayern boss Rummenigge is backing Neuer to cope with the jeers and whistles.

"I don't know many players who have such a strong personality as Manuel Neuer," said Rummenigge.

Both Bayern striker Mario Gomez (groin) and defender Daniel van Buyten (Achilles) are doubtful for the Gelsenkirchen showdown having picked up injuries in Bayern's 2-0 win at Villarreal in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The pair completed individual training programmes on Saturday and will travel to the Ruhr valley, "but we won't take a decision until just before kick-off," said Bayern boss Jupp Heynckes.

Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Faehrmann is labouring with torn ligaments, but played in a goalless Europa League draw with Steaua Bucharest on Thursday and is expected to play against Munich.

Bayern go into the game third in the league after Werder Bremen claimed top with a 1-1 draw at Nuremberg on Saturday while Moenchengladbach are second after their 1-0 win at Hamburg.